Auto News & New car review

The Dodge Dakota was introduced as a mid-sized pickup, then the only one available, to avoid competing directly with the Chevy S-10 and Ford Ranger; the larger size allowed Dodge to have a higher capacity than the compact pickups, and, later, the only V8.
The Dakota was redesigned for 2005, but sales were disappointing and the engineers and stylists were put back to work; the fruit of their labors was a more attractive truck with new interior features and a massive horsepower upgrade, using the same basic frame and chassis. The 4.7 liter engine has been around since 1999, but now it has 302 horsepower, in the same ballpark as the 5.7 Hemi (which is getting pushed up to 380 hp soon) and far above any past Dakota engine. The interior has been dolled up with a hard-drive based stereo, underseat storage containers, and other features. The sides remain the same, but the grille has been cleaned up and converted to the new Dodge style, with good results (compare the 2008 and 2006 models, above). Read the rest of this entry »

This review covers two different 2008 Jeep Liberty models - one with and one without the magical canvas SkySliderâ„¢ roof. Both models were the Limited, with classy two-tone leather seats and a variety of options. Read the rest of this entry »

The FIAT Idea was launched in the UK in February 2004 with the ‘George not included’ TV advertising campaign which featured American actor George Clooney - for more information

The Idea was FIAT Auto’s first entry into the competitive mini-MPV market and it benefits from FIAT’s expertise in the field of small cars which already includes the Panda and Punto. Read the rest of this entry »

The Lincoln MKX is an upscale alternative to the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano, offering the features of pricier crossovers from Acura, BMW, Infiniti, and Lexus. Introduced for the 2007 model year, the MKX is a crossover utility vehicle, or CUV, meaning it has the roominess and cargo capacity of an SUV but is built like a car for improved fuel economy, a smoother ride and better handling. Read the rest of this entry »

In our land of plenty, an abundance of similar choices is a way of life. Buying something as mundane as bottled water can be beguiling and the decision may come down to which bottles have the most eye-catching design. In the automotive world, one can face the same quandary — witness the 2008 Mercury Milan. A twin of the Ford Fusion midsize sedan, the Milan is a bit fancier inside and out. But is the actual content — the water, you might say — any different? Read the rest of this entry »

The current Kia Spectra hasn’t changed much since its debut in 2004, and even in the highly-competitive compact class that is not a problem. Even now, it holds its own very well thank you - especially the premium Spectra5 variant, an unusual and very European concept in the American compact market. Is it a five-door sporty hatchback? Or is it a small sport wagon? Read the rest of this entry »

Since 2001, the PT Cruiser has moved from being a low-volume, high-demand vehicle; Chrysler more than tripled production to meet demand, and then lowered demand with a 2006 refresh that eliminated some of the PT’s unique interior and exterior looks, while some analysts and, reportedly, some within Chrysler referred to the popular vehicle as a flash-in-the-pan or a failure. Oddly, though, the PT is still a good choice; though its gas mileage remains less than ideal and its acceleration less than thrilling, that’s true for most cars in its class. The exterior may not be as striking as it was in 2001, thanks to a poorly executed under-bumper area and perhaps ill-advised modifications to the headlights, but it is still as unique as it was — even with the Chevy HHR on the road. (When GM applied full resources to a PT-like vehicle, they ended up with something no better than the low-budget PT.) Read the rest of this entry »

The Dodge Caliber has been criticized by many reviewers for its lack of power; the SRT-4 changes the equation with a turbocharger that boosts the 2.4 liter engine to a full 285 horsepower, enough to make the Caliber quite fast - 0-60 comes up in around 6 seconds, or in 5.8 seconds if we believe the magazines - if not instantly responsive. The SRT-4 also has a tuned suspension and higher capacity brakes, along with better tires than the ordinary Caliber; the result is a vehicle which can achieve excellent test ratings all around. Read the rest of this entry »

Skoda has confirmed that it will be putting the Skoda Yeti into production, after the Skoda Yeti Design Study displayed at the Geneva Motor Show was quite well received by the public. After the success of the Yeti concept, Skoda also produced a two-seater pick-up version that used a hard top that could be removed for an open top driving experience. Read the rest of this entry »

These are the first true pictures of the 2010 Saab 9-4X crossover vehicle, just captured by our spy photographers undergoing track testing.
We first saw this body style at the Detroit Auto Show, being touted at as the 9-4X BioPower Concept, but Saab is obviously serious about bringing this to the marketplace in a timely fashion.
Codenamed GMT168, the Saab 9-4X will arrive in time for the 2010 model year. Read the rest of this entry »